For the past several years, I have participated in the NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate League, and it has truly been an amazing experience. Some of my favorite memories were made at competitions with my family and fellow competitors.

One of the events that students could compete in was Apologetics, an event where students would study a little over 100 topics on the Christian faith, and could write notecards to be used during the competition.

This category includes topics such as, "What is the purpose of man?", or "Explain the meaning and significance of the trinity," or some more puzzling topics such as "Analyze and respond to the statement, 'All matter, energy, and life are an interconnected unity of which we are an inseparable part' - World Pantheism Movement" - (huh?). These topics are challenging, and cause a person to really ponder...

... At least, that is the goal. But just like everything, not everyone has the same vision. Sadly, I have seen some students who missed the vision, and Apologetics became just another speech event. I know I fell into that trap several times in the rush before tournament - in the scurrying to get my scripts ready and finish my cards for apologetics and practice an impromptu speech, I didn't stop to think...

Why do I study Apologetics?

I believe that whether or not you compete in NCFCA, every Child of God should study apologetics. But why?

I would like to propose two main reasons, but before we look at those, we must know what apologetics is.

Bible.org defines apologetics as, "the defense of the Christian faith." (They do go on to mention that is a simple definition, that apologetics goes much deeper, but for our purposes, this sums it up well.)

Apologetics is not apologizingfor our faith, rather it is defending it. It goes back to the greek word, Apologia, which meant "a speaking in defense".

Now that we know what apologetics is, we must ask the question, "Why should every Christian study Apologetics?" I would like to propose two main reasons:

1. So we can be firmly grounded in what we believe:

Regardless of whether the questions come on a little note card in a competition room or on the news, we will all be faced with questions and/or attacks on our faith. They are everywhere! In books, magazines, movies, plays, radio programs, advertisements, television... all over the place!

Unless we are firmly rooted in God's Word, we will be tossed by every wind of new theories and lies that will be hurled our way.

2. So you can be ready to share:

1 Peter 3:15, a verse we are all familiar with, gives us another reason to study apologetics:

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"

I love how Grace Mally put it in her book, Will Our Generation speak? A Call to be Bold With the Gospel: "Why do we need to defend Christianity? Does God need us to defend Him? No. But we are ambassadors for Christ, and the Lord has given us an overwhelming amount of evidence to confirm that everything He has said in the Bible is true. Apologetics is an awe-inspiring study, because the deeper we look, the more we find that our faith is built on unshakeable ground."

But truly there are two elements to being ready to share:

First, we need to be different than the world. Now this does not mean we need to wear goofy clothes or be strange... rather, our character should be different than the world. While we will never be perfect, we should act differently than the world does, seeking to glorify God with all that we do. They should have a reason to ask us.

But we also need to prepare. Study the creation/evolution discussion. Check out some apologetics websites and prayerfully consider the topics you will encounter.

Then, share your faith! Show Gods love to people around you... be an example! :)

One last note - my pastor shared that when we study apologetics, we must look at the topics trusting that’s God’s Word is true. It has stood the test of time! We have been going through the book of Daniel at church, and we have been talking about the “controversy” surrounding whether or not Daniel is a historical book. But every time, they have dug a little deeper and found that the archaeological evidence supports the Bible. My pastor always says: “Just wait, archaeology will catch up to the Bible.” :) ​